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Period: to
Water-Cooled Automatic Machine Gun Developed
The Automatic Machine gun was developed in this general time period. While it may seem like only a minor invention, the automatic machine gun was one of the major contributors to the sheer carnage of WW1. -
Triple Alliance Formed
The Triple alliance was a Military agreement reached between Italy, Germany, and Austria-Hungary. If attacked by an outside force, this agreement requred the other two countries to hlep in defending the attacked country. -
Triple Entente Formed
The Triple Entente was a military alliance and understanding reached between the Third French Republic, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the Russian Empire. The Triple Entente was formed in reaction to the growing power of the Triple Alliance. -
Vickers Automatic Water-cooled Machine Gun
The Vickers machine gun was formally inducted into the British armed forces. -
Period: to
War Erupts
[Aug 1] Germany declares war on Russia, mobilizes troops. France Mobilizes as well. [Aug 2] Germany marches on Luxembourg and demands passage through Belgium. [Aug 3] Germany invades Belgium. [Aug 4] France declares war on Germany. -
Franz Ferdinand assasinated
At 11:15 AM, Serbian president Franz Ferdinand and his wife were shot by a Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian revolutionary warking with a team of five others. -
Austrian Leaders prepare for war on Serbia
The assasination of Franze Ferdinand and his wife were used as a pretext to declare war on Serbia by Austrian leaders. Their plan was to put forth unnaceptable demands and then, when they were not met, declare war. They only did this, however, after being assured by German leaders that they would be protected form Russia, the only true force keeping them from declaring war. -
Serbia responds
Serbia responds to the Austrian demands. They declined two demands: one, that they allow Austria to conduct operations on Serbian soil against organizations they felt were hostile to Austrian causes, and two, the demands that certain Serbian officials be fired. -
Stalemate at Battle of Jutland
The German navy intended to set a trap off of the coast of Norway for British forces, however the message containing the orders was intercepted and decrypted by the Allies. Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, in charge of the Royal fleet of Britain, was dispatched to intercept the German forces. The German forces were led by Vice-Admiral Reinhard Scheer. Scheer's plan was to send a force of about a dozen lighter craft 50 miles or so ahead of the main forces, who would then catch the Britsh in the middle. -
US enters the war
[A Sign posed outside the Chicago Dill pickle club hosting an antiwar dance] US President Woodrow Wilson formally brought the United States into World War 1 following attacks on American merchant ships and the breakdown of diplomatic relations with Germany. Wilson had heavy support from the people, congress, and most newspapers. -
Treaty of Versailles signed
The treaty of Versailles was an armstice signed between Germany, and the Allied forces (United states, Britain, France, Ital, and Japan.) It forced Garmany to pay the modern equvalent of $442 million in raparations.
